The Way Forward: Renewing the American Idea

by Paul Ryan

THE WAY FORWARD challenges conventional thinking, outlines his political vision for 2014 and beyond, and shows how essential conservatism is for the future of our nation.

Beginning with a careful analysis of the 2012 election--including a look at the challenge the GOP had in reaching a majority of voters and the prevalence of identity politics--Ryan examines the state of the Republican party and dissects its challenges going forward.

THE WAY FORWARD also offers a detailed critique of not only President Obama but of the progressive movement as a whole--its genesis, its underlying beliefs and philosophies, and how its policies are steering the country to certain ruin.

Culminating in a plan for the future, THE WAY FORWARD argues that the Republican Party is and must remain a conservative party, emphasizing conservatism in a way that demonstrates how it can modernize and appeal to both our deepest concerns and highest ideals.

Genres: Politics, Biography, Nonfiction, Economics, Audiobook, Political Science

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Paul Davis Ryan Jr. is a retired American politician who served as the 54th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from October 2015 to January 2019. Ryan was first elected to the House in 1998. He was reelected eight times.
He was also the 2012 vice presidential nominee of the Republican Party, running alongside Mitt Romney.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to put aside Mike Huckabee's A Simple Government back in 2012 because I just couldn't keep a straight face and take it seriously. I not only finished but enjoyed much of The Way Forward because it offered a relatively personal portrait of a young congressional leader as he found his niche and then grew it to match his rising stature as well as his take on relations with President Obama.

Ryan's account of his Jack Kemp days and the period of minority-of-the-majority offered information and perspectives that aren't easily found without going to the source. Can one trust Ryan's every word on this history and its ramifications? Probably not, but the very writing of it offers a chance to better comprehend this period.

I want to read this book again, if for no other reason than to better consider his analysis of Detroit and Janesville, where my mother lives and I have spent considerable time as well as his policy prescriptions for an ailing republic. Do I agree with Paul Ryan on most issues? No, but his book made me want to better understand how and why we disagree.

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great glimpse into Paul Ryan's life, history, and political agenda. His views are very Republican and very Catholic at the same time, confirming that the two aren't mutually exclusive. I especially enjoyed his take on entitlement programs and their role in restoring human dignity and a return to community.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too much "Leave It to Beaver" vibe in this book.

[Ashis Saha · Rating 2 out of 5]

রক্ষণশীল (conservative) রাজনীতি বুঝার জন্য বইটা হাতে নিয়েছি। কেন ও কীভাবে এই আদর্শ জনগণের উপকার করতে পারে এবং কী-কী কারণে তা উদারপন্থী (progressive) রাজনীতির চেয়ে ভালো হতে পারে -- এসব বিষয়গুলো বুঝতে চেয়েছি। বইটা পড়ে যা বুঝলাম, রক্ষণশীল আর উদারপন্থী চিন্তার মূল পার্থক্য হচ্ছে সরকারের নিয়ন্ত্রণের মাত্রায়। রক্ষণশীলরা ন্যূনতম নিয়ন্ত্রণের পক্ষে, পারলে কোন ধরনের নিয়ন্ত্রণ না করার পক্ষে। তাদের মতে, সমাজের একটা বড় অংশ পরিবর্তন চাইলে সমাজ নিজেই পরিবর্তিত হবে, সরকারিভাবে নতুন কোন আইন তৈরি করে জনগণকে বাধ্য করার দরকার নেই। যেমনঃ শ্রেণী-বৈষম্য দূর করার জন্য কোন আইন তৈরি করতে চায় না তারা, জলবায়ুর পরিবর্তন রোধে কার্বন-ডাই-অক্সাইডের নিঃসরণ কমানোর জন্য কোন বিধি-নিষেধের দরকার নেই, শ্রমিক অধিকার রক্ষায় কোন বিশেষ আইনের দরকার নেই। কোন কিছুতেই সরকারের তেমন কিছু করার দরকার নেই। সরকার যেন জনগণকে অনেকটা "আল্লার ওয়াস্তে" ছেড়ে দিবে।। জনগণ প্রয়োজনের তাগিদে নিজেরাই ভালোর দিকে পরিবর্তন আনবে, নিজেরাই সমস্যার সমাধান করবে, খারাপ কোন কিছু সমাজে টিকতে পারবে না। সরকার কেবল এমন কিছু ন্যূনতম নীতি তৈরি করবে যাতে মানুষজন ভালো কাজে উৎসাহিত হয়, ভালো কাজ করার কাঠামো তৈরি হয়। এতে কারো স্বাধীনতায় হস্তক্ষেপ না করেই ভালো কিছু করা সম্ভব। সংক্ষেপে এটাই রক্ষণশীলতা।

কিন্তু সমস্যা হলো - এখানে সংখ্যালঘুর প্রতি অবিচার দূর করার কোন উপায় নেই, কারণ অল্প কিছু মানুষের জন্য সমাজে কোন পরিবর্তন আসবে না। সহসাই ক্ষমতাশীনদের দ্বারা ক্ষমতাহীনদের প্রতি অবিচার কিংবা ধনী কর্তৃক গরীবের প্রতি অবিচার রোধের কোন উপায় নেই, কারণ ক্ষমতাসীনদের বা ধনীদের নিয়ন্ত্রণ করার ক্ষমতা আমজনতার নেই। মানুষ নিজের লাভ না দেখে কেবল বৃহত্তর স্বার্থে কাজ করবে এমন কল্পনা বাস্তবতাবর্জিত, তাই জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের মতো বিষয়ে পদক্ষেপ নিতে বড্ড বেশি দেরি হয়ে যেতে পারে।

নিজে উদারপন্থী বলে একচোখাভাবে রক্ষণশীলতার এসব সমস্যার কথা বলছি তা না। খোলা-মন নিয়ে পড়েছি। সব আদর্শেরইতো কিছু ভালো দিক আর কিছু মন্দ দিক থাকে -- এটা ধরেই এগিয়েছি। তারপরেও রক্ষণশীল নীতি কেন উদারপন্থার চেয়ে ভালো -- পল রায়ান তার সদুত্তর দিতে পারেননি। কেবল কয়েকটা উদাহরণ দিয়েছেন - অমুক ডেমোক্রেটিক শহরের অবস্থা খারাপ, তমুক রিপাবলিকান শহরের অবস্থা ভালো, অতএব রিপাবলিকান নীতি ভালো। কার্যকরণের ব্যাখ্যা নেই, যুক্তি নেই। রিপাবলিকান নীতিই যে তমুক শহরের ভালো অবস্থার জন্য অন্যতম কারণ, অন্য কোন কিছু নয়, তেমনটা বুঝানোর কোন প্রয়াসই ছিলো না। তাই হতাশ হয়েছি।

দুই-তারা দিয়েছি রক্ষণশীলতার ধারণাটুকু দিতে পারার জন্য।

[Joshua Berkov · Rating 2 out of 5]

Paul Ryan dishes up conservative platitudes throughout the story and fails to deliver the detailed policy proposals that I was hoping to read about. As expected, he criticizes President Obama's lack of cooperation, but does nothing to shed light on his own party's responsibility in the partisan gridlock that has occurred under this president.

I did enjoy learning about his life and the hardships he faced after his father died though, and the book certainly adds a human touch to Rep. Ryan's image that was lacking.

For me, the biggest failing of this book is the lack of any real understanding of how to empower people to make the changes they need to in order to life themselves out of poverty. In fact, I believe this is one of the conservative movement's biggest failings as a whole.

[Hiknbean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spin is spin. Paul, you have been in congress for 15 years. You are part of the problem.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Ryan has laid out the conservative doctrine in a way that I have never experienced before in my lifetime. I had always wondered why my late grandfather, a public activist and extremely compassionate man, was a conservative. When in fact, he believed that government had a role in our lives.


Today there are many conservatives that want to see ALL safety net programs cut and see NO government spending in our lives. That has always seemed outrageous and counterproductive. I’ve always looked for a republican candidate that believed in a governmental role for our federal government.


Ryan explains this role of government in an elegant and logical way. His American idea and how conservatives use government in a supportive role, instead of the main driving force in our lives that we have seen lately. He explains that progressive initiatives seeking to help the poor and most vulnerable...does just that, seeks to help these people but these policies are so broad and far reaching that they do not always hit their mark.


Although, I am still skeptical of a government that is run completely by conservatives. I am glad that we have hard working, critically thinking and compassionate conservatives in government, such as Paul Ryan.


The only criticism that I have of the book is that he briefly talks about cutting corporate subsidies but doesn't go into detail about which subsidies he sees as worthy of cutting. He talks about corporate welfare and creating a flat tax. Then talks very little about what tax loopholes that he is willing to cut and what type of corporate welfare he is trying to target. He talks about privatizing portions of our government but doesn't talk about the government’s role in stopping monopolies and oligopolies from controlling the competitive role of small and mid-sized businesses. Which in my opinion are a restriction on the true American Idea of creating competition in all markets by allowing small and mid-size businesses to flourish.


As a centrist, I will end up upsetting a person on the far left and a person on far right. I understand both arguments but I lean towards Ryan's libertarian ideas. Although, philosophy is also not always the best way to create policy, I do believe we as a country, have recently gone too far to the left and need some correction with some conservative reforms. I do believe that taking Paul Ryan's ideology to the far extreme right can cause us to move from under the thumb of the government and move to a place where we are under the thumb of corporation’s and their market incentives (greed).


Overall, a great read for any person trying to understand what a true conservative, true leader and true servant of the people looks like. You don't have to agree with all that he says to understand that he is absolutely a good man, looking to make this country great.
Thank you Paul for writing this book and thank you for your candid and thoughtful policy proposals.

[Keith Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm very interested in politics, I read this entire book in just a couple of sittings. Though I don't have proof of this, I think this could very well be Paul Ryan's way of saying, "If Mitt doesn't run in 2016, then I will". He doesn't explicitly say "If I were elected president, this is what I'd do". But he sort of does. What he says rather is.

Tells you his life story how he became a senator at age 27 or 28. And what it was like as a senator during the Clinton years, then the Bush years, then the first term of Obama and some of the major issues there. The mistakes that were made by both democrats and republicans, The mistakes that were made, and what republicans could have better during those times.

Then he tells the story of how he was chosen by Mitt Romney as his running mate. And the ideals and changes that needed to happen to improve the country.

Then he talks about what happened after he lost the election. And what he's going to focus on next. And what the republican party needs to focus on next. How they can appeal to specific groups that have lost a great deal of support for republicans. (He explicitly states that he hasn't decided if he (Paul Ryan) is going to run in 2016).

Ok, that was the summery, so yes, even though it's a book that's probably just one big political ad for republicans. It is, and I can't emphasize this enough, WORTH THE READ.


He explains specific things that MUST be a priority for america. Things that, as of right now work for Americans, but are simply unsustainable. Democrats are pretty much ignoring those problems. But paul ryan talks about how certain policies will be changed, it's just a matter of when.

For example, the corporate tax rate in america is the highest in the world 35% and for businesses The united states is the worst place in the world to make a corporate profit. and to think and dream of the possibility if we could attract more businesses to the united states with a lower corporate tax rate. As of now, because of our high corporate tax rate, businesses are moving out of the country at alarming rates and seldom are moving in. Eventually we will NEED to lower the rate. But the question is when, is it when there are so few jobs that we are forced to? Or should we do it sooner rather than later so the number of jobs can grow in america rather than continue to shrink?

There are a lot more things he talks about in this book that would be MAJOR improvements to our current systems.

Particularly

How to solve the health care crisis.
How to lower our taxes, increase our take home pay with lower taxes and increase the number of available jobs in america.
How to fix America's broken immigration policy.
Why it is so important to have a smaller government rather than a large one. And how to achieve that.

And many more things.

[Kristen Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see Ryan’s Way Forward as refreshing. He is revealing of his Midwestern upbringing and sincere appreciation of his widowed Mom’s guidance.

Ryan admits to some minor mistakes along the way in the process of his development as a bright young man with a clear understanding and respect for the foundation of our government by our founding fathers. His deep rooted ideas which evolved from his intense study of economics have formed the basis for his ideas on how to move our country on a path to growth, prosperity and equality of opportunity.

Paul Ryan has praise for both Democrats and Republicans who put forth realistic ideas and are willing to bend a little in crossing the aisle for legislation that will provide some level of progress. This book leaves me with respect for an intelligent young man, mature beyond his age, who has demonstrated leadership in taking on difficult challenges in the US House of Representatives
This book reminds me that I will never find a politician who I agree with on all the issues, but hopeful that I will find a hardworking man or woman with a goal in governing to do what is best for all America in preserving a government foundation; a foundation that has prevailed over 220 years as the best ever produced in the history of mankind.

I will continue to evaluate the proposed alternatives among those men and women, Democrats and Republicans, seeking to re-direct the path of America in the 2016 Presidential election. I look forward to reading other books that will help me in that pursuit. I have a feeling many of those who read Ryan’s book , if they actually even read it, did so with a pre-determined goal of seeking to be critical without digesting his specific ideas. I highly recommend reading this book with an open mind.

[Sher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not conservative, but I really enjoyed this book, and I learned a lot. I like the Ryan begins with the progressive liberal view of a topic, and I can say he understands the liberal view quite well, and then he proceeds to explain his view. I found many of the ideas for various reforms possible. I mean I can see how some of them could work and could improve things. I also find agreement about problems wit the welfare state, and about how HUGE government has become. He's strongly Catholic, and his faith informs the way he sees the ideal for American life. I was very struck by how much he visited the poor, addicts, and down and outers, and how he cared enough to spend time and to go even into situations where he would be surrounded by liberals- those who not agree with him at all. I also agree the heart of American life should be civic activities and volunteerism, there is so much we can do within our own communities to help. Isolationism is not a good thing. of course Ryan supports building walls and military pretty well in line with Trump's agenda. At least he explains it here. I think it is a good read for liberals, because you get a view of both sides, and Ryan doesn't attack and malign liberalism. I never felt like I could not read on. I look forward to his book post- Trump. That should be very interesting.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

irish work ethic, Detroit too much staff too many benefits and retirement, Obama politics of division corruption, received social security benefits after dad alcohol 16, determined to swim not sink, what you pay in taxes illustrated with wasteful projects, 2 ears 1 mouth, specialize not too thin, Johnson era began use as slush fund, no car company bail-out no ear marks, 08 timid party lost seats need for leadership old guard did not work began young guns, no input on recovery plan, price controls, Obamacare pressure we are at the table or on menu, not inclusive, govt in control or people, defense define need then budget, give voters options, givers receivers makers takers, distrust unchecked power, not motives its methods, play to strengths not dems, simpler smaller smart, better immigration not amnesty, too many dod workers, the courage to raise a child, outcry in the barrio, highest poverty rate, no need for conversion when you have conviction to charity, real compassion comes with responsibility accountability and hard work dignity of self, subsidiarity at lowest level help, 92 programs to help poor, how do we treat poorest of poor is measure of society, culture of work and charity, local control results a bridge.

[Thomas E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book by one of the leading national political figures of our era. Ryan does an excellent job of mixing together his life story and his political philosophy into a highly readable book.

Almost any reasonable observer of today's political scene would have to admit that the federal government is a large part of the problem, not the solution, to many of the social problems that afflict us. Paul Ryan advocates the libertarian (AKA classical liberal) view which argues that less government is preferable to more government, and that our government is heavily involved in many sectors of the economy that could be better handled by the private sector (e.g., health care). He is not an extremist libertarian by any stretch; for example he argues forcefully that the social security system should be retained.

Paul Ryan has managed to have a successful career as a national politician while at the same time not buying into the Washington establishment view of reactionary preservation of the big government, federal welfare state. His book explains how he has navigated this amazing feat. It's an entertaining story.

[Drtaxsacto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short intelligent book which is part personal reflection on the state of politics and part policy wonk prescription for how to get things going.

Ryan is an optimist in the tradition of Ronald Reagan. But he is also deeply committed to figuring out how to make things work. He discusses his work with Senator Murray on crafting one of the first budget agreements in about a decade.

He is also the wonk's wonk. He describes in some detail his approach to public policy both in terms of policy prescriptions and also in explaining how he gets his facts and figures together. He is very committed to making public policy and the numbers surrounding it clearer.

At this point it is unclear whether he will run for president - he is slated to become the Chair of Ways and Means and if the GOP takes over the Senate - he will be one of the key leaders in Congress in trying to figure out whether they can do the same kinds of things that the President might buy into (like the Welfare Reform effort with President Clinton).

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall I was disappointed. I was expecting a much more detailed plan of what Mr Ryan would propose we do to create jobs, reduce Government, handle the entitlement mess and cut the debt. He did have a lot of ideas and recommendations on all the major issues with a discussion on why we adopt his suggestions, but no down in the dirt details. For me the devil is in the details. What programs should be done away with or cut. Adjust the tax system exactly how. Tell me in detail how we deal with the entitlement programs. How many years under his plan to a balanced budget. Instead we got a top level discussion on his American Ideal and basically the Republican platform. One thing he does stress which I do think is vital, is the need to put forward plans and ideas and not just say no and attack the other party.

In general an OK read, but for me lacking in the real details of what he proposes.

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the BEST books ever & not just because I know Paul Ryan in real life & he sent me this book as a prize for doing some volunteer jobs for him. I read the whole thing in about 3 days. Paul Ryan's life story is fascinating & he does a really good job of explaining his beliefs. He is the best congressman ever & I'm so proud to live in his district! I would have liked if he shared more details about his life but it's a good length & fun & easy to read.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Are you confused about the intricacies of today’s foreign and domestic policies? Do you want to know exactly how the Republican Party can help average Americans like me and you? Well, you’re not alone! Mainly because Paul Ryan is also trying to figure this out (but fails to do so). Sadly, this book is largely a reminder of how much ones own background/upbringing can blind us to the struggles of the rest of the world. A big ole “meh.”.

[s h · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm hoping this cements his aspirations to run for president in 2016 and leads to an overwhelming mandate to get the USA's fiscal house in order.

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Ryan reminds America that the Obama policies are a dismal failure. Ryan proposes common sense solutions to get America back on it's feet again. Deeply encouraging!

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

​When I read ​a ​political book released just prior to an election, my initial assumption is that the author is positioning him(her)self for higher office. Although I just saw a week or so ago a statement made by the author of this book, Paul Ryan, that he would NOT be running for President in the next Presidential election if Mitt Romney decides to run again, nonetheless I assumed that Ryan wrote "The Way Forward"​ to be sure he's included in the short list of possible nominees for the G.O.P to spot in the 2016 race.

Assuming that Paul Ryan is interested in running for President, my next ​thought was whether he'd aim his message at the Party loyalists, to show he's a better Republican than his potential opponents, or if he'd ​temper his ideas somewhat to gain support of the growing number of political Independents and possible swing voters in the Democratic Party. ​Some combination of those two approaches seems to be required in order to win a national election. The roadmap ​​for success seems to require first appealing to the extreme wing of your political party, since they're typically the most likely voters in the Primaries, and then to shift back toward the center for the general election once the party nomination is locked up. ​I think it can be difficult to write a book with that long-term goal in mind, ​i.e., showing that you're conservative enough to get the Republican Party nomination, and yet still convey enough moderation to be appealing to Independents or possible swing Democrats. If that was among his reasons for writing the book, I thought ​Ryan did a fairly good job of accomplishing that goal.

Ryan ​established his Party credentials early, including plenty of discussion​ in the initial chapters of showing how important family values, religion, community, hard work, prayer, hunting, love of Country, etc., were in his youth and in developing his character. ​His description of his early life hits on all the ideals of American youth, especially when he describes how he spontaneously broke out into song and sang 'America the Beautiful' after climbing to a scenic overlook while hiking as a youngster. It reminded me of Sarah Palin's first school memory, as described in "Going Rogue" of being so proud to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance" in her classroom. How can you not immediately not like people like that.

If you want to get more into Ryan's political life and policies, you might skip the first couple of chapters and get into his adult life. There, he again hits the key points you'd expect, e.g., small government, low taxes, free markets, fewer regulations, independent community and charitable foundation initiatives, etc.
He also ​include​s enough Obama bashing and dismissal of "Liberals and Progressives" (he didn't seem to use the term Democrats very much) to satisfy ​most ​​Party loyalists, ​yet didn't make the entire book about nothing but bashing the op​p​os​s​i​ng party, leaving room for appealing to Independents.

I'm sure Obama supporters would take issue ​with any number of things Ryan blamed on ​personally on ​Obama. For example, ​while oil production in 2011 and 2012 from Federal land and offshore wells FELL under Obama, ​and oil production on private land INCREASED, ​and one can blame Obama and his policies for that, ​​but everyone might not agree with Ryan that this means Obama is anti-oil. Given the uncertainty of the cause of the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, ​many ​may ​believe ​it ​was prudent ​at that time ​to issue a moratorium on offshore oil drilling and permitting until the cause could be assessed and corrections made. Also, while ​Ryan implied that ​Obama was personally ​responsible for trying to kill the Air Force A-10 Warthog ​air​plane to save money​,​ ​risking lives of military personnel on the front lines, my recollection was that it was an Air Force ​cost-saving ​decision ​as a result of​ Sequestration and Congressional ma​n​dated ​across the board spending cuts. There were other ​possible arguable ​items​ Ryan included, ​beyond ​criticisms​ about ObamaCare, the budget deficit, bailouts to prevent a recession / depression, etc.​ But, like political campaign add​s​, it's ​all ​a matter of perspective​, and he does need to appeal to his ​Party ​base​.

​Moving from specific criticism of Obama and on to criticism of "big government", ​Ryan ​easily finds some low hanging fruit. ​There are many cases where small private initiatives perform better than large Federal Programs. Ryan talks about several of these. ​One example Ryan offers regarding failures of government programs versus private initiatives is Bob Cote's Step 13 program for homeless and alcoholics. This program has a better success rate than many similar Federal initiatives. But even in some of these criticisms of the failures of big government programs, there ​are some cases where private initiatives got their start from Federal Programs and Grants. So ​a case can be made on either side of the argument, dismissing any Federal spending on support for the poor​, and ​to ​depend solely on private char​i​ties and donations​ may not succeed either​, since without those grants and government sponsored seed​ fund​s, some of those private programs wouldn't have been able to be successful.

But enough of the critical aspects. On the positive side, ​​one thing which would appeal to me after watching a very ineffective Congress, would be some ​indication of a willingness to cross the aisle and work with ​all ​members of congress​, regardless of party affiliation, as well as an ability to ​be honest enough to ​recognize that neither political party is above criticism. ​And in this regard​,​ he succeeded. He reminded ​readers of his budget agreement​, ​ prepared by himself along with his ​Senate counterpart on the Budget Committee​, Democratic Senator Patty Murray​. This was one of few bipartisian agreements ​which ​the 111th Congress accomplished, and ​Ryan ​​seemed proud of that accomplishment.

​That recognition that both parties need to work together to find solutions appealed to me. Ryan talked frequently of Reagan in this book (and very little of G.W. Bush), so I assume the style of Reagan working with Tip O'Neill, or possibly even of Clinton working with Newt Gingrich, is a style he'd prefer to emulate. While those Presidential / Congressional relationships weren't without contention, some common ground was eventually reached, and things like tax breaks, welfare reform, and deficit reduction eventually came to pass. Ryan express no interest in following the current relationship as demonstrated between Obama, McConnell, and Boehner. ​

​In terms of specific programs and recommendations, Ryan's focus in Congress has been in budgeting,​ and he spend​s​ a fair amount of time talking economics. I was specifically interested in any ideas he would put forward to discuss the high cost of our entitlement programs and how to fund them going forward. ​That's been a difficult area for the current as well as past Administrations, and it was disappointing ​when he wrote about how his idea to use the ​2000 ​budget surplus​,​ which Bush inherited​​,​ ​was rejected. Ryan wrote that he proposed using the budget surplus ​​to beef up the Social Security ​Program, only to have Cheney quickly dismiss the idea saying "... we're not doing that". That opportunity was squandered by deciding it was better​, politically,​ to give the money back to the voters through tax cuts​,​ and allow ​any deficit problem​s to ​be deferred for later years. ​And here we sit with the surplus long gone and a worse situation with Social Security.

​But I liked the fact that he ​was willing to ​at least ​discuss ideas for saving Social Security. I believe t​hat​ it's time to take some of the steps​ in that direction. I also was glad to see that Ryan ​touched on ideas for improving our tax code​, immigration reform, and educational system problems. ​ But the question is whether or n​ot ​any ideas and initiatives he may have can ever be implemented by a reluctant and broken Congress.

Other areas I would have been interested in Ryan addressing in his book​, especially if he has Presidential ambitions, include discussions of his positions in Foreign Policy, dealing w​ith terrorism, ​environmental issues, ​renewable energy and energy policy, support for research and development of new technology, etc.​ He was basically silent on these important issues, but I recognize that all books must have some limits. ​ ​

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

God help us all if this is one of brightest minds of the Republican Party.

[Harry Lane · Rating 1 out of 5]

No stars. I found the book unreadable. Oh, the biographical notes were somewhat interesting, and Ryan makes some nice statements about how government should care for its populace. But in the back of my mind were the fact that Ryan has acquiesced in the obstructionist tactics of the House since the Republicans took over and the deceptive nature of his budget proposals which rely on unspecified cuts to balance. But these are quibbles compared to what I consider a fundamental philosophical problem, which is Ryan's insistence that our problems stem from government placing impediments in the way of free markets.

The problem here is that for any economy above the barter level, there is no such thing as an unfettered free market. On the one hand, government activity is necessary at some level to facilitate the exchange of goods and services. In a simple economy, that might only entail some oversight of a physical market, roads for transport, some kind of medium of exchange and protection for the participants from thieves. While you could argue that such facilitating actions, while more complex, are all that is required in economies at larger scales, there is another factor that comes into play. There is a strong tendency for people to try to manipulate the market to their advantage. For instance, the “robber barons” engaged in monopolistic practices and had to be restrained by government anti-trust measures. Should a chemical company be allowed to dump its waste in such a manner as to foul your drinking water simply to add a few dollars to its bottom line? Must workers accede to unpaid overtime as a condition of retaining their job? I could go on and on in this vein, but the point is simply that government oversight is a necessary counterweight to such tendencies.

Ryan cites the bankruptcy of Solyndra as an example where the government would have better left the research and development to private enterprise. That statement, standing alone, is grossly misleading. The Department of Energy has funded solar research since its inception, and there is no doubt that such funding has been a significant factor in the declining costs of solar technologies. Were one to run a tabulation of the funding and the results thereof, I've no doubt there would be both successes and failures. This is also true of private research and development. However, most would acknowledge the government plays an essential role in basic research and development, with advances in knowledge being taken up, developed further and commercialized by private interests. The internet is a striking case in point.

Ryan also disparages the Obama stimulus, which raises the question of the proper government role in mitigating the regular boom and bust cycle, of which the 2008 experience was the latest example. In a truly free market, the banks would have been allowed to fail and the economy would have collapsed. Thanks to massive government intervention, that did not occur, and according to the Congressional Budget Office, the stimulus “ raised the level of real (inflation-adjusted) gross domestic product (GDP) by between 1.7 percent and 4.5 percent, lowered the unemployment rate by between 0.7 percentage points and 1.8 percentage points, increased the number of people employed by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million, and increased the number of full-time-equivalent (FTE) jobs by 2.0 million to 4.8 million compared with what those amounts would have been otherwise.” Oh, and we have a rather healthy auto industry, which some extreme free marketeers would have let go by the boards.

Ryan's argument that market forces can be relied upon to produce better results is therefore akin to saying get government out of the way so pixie dust can work its magic.

[Alex MacMillan · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The real crisis of conservatism…can be boiled down to two propositions. The first is that, at least as the American electorate is presently con­stituted, there is no imaginable political coali­tion…capable of sustaining a majority that takes a reduction of the scope of the federal govern­ment as one of its central tasks. The second [proposition] is that modern American conserva­tism is incapable of organizing itself without tak­ing that as its central mission." - Ramesh Ponnuru

What compels me to read political memoirs like The Way Forward, which are almost entirely formulaically churned out by the politician's ghostwriters and interns to not-rock-the-boat as much as possible? Books on a shelf that are to be seen but not actually heard? For me, sifting through the filler is worth it to get a concentrated dosage of the experiences and objectives that define a politician's purpose in office. How was I to know, for example, that Ryan was such a Leave It to Beaver goodie two-shoes? Someone who brags repeatedly about his obeisance for parents and mentors, and who is, unlike Sarah Palin, surrounded by devoted family and friends who give him no drama whatsoever? Someone who, despite toeing the mainstream Republican Party line on every issue, comes off as someone who is principled, sincere, and unconcerned with being thrown out by voters if he sticks his neck out too far? In a political world where candidates lack control over how the media presents them and must dumb down their arguments to be TV-friendly, the book medium offers the reader such clarity and detail.

I enjoy seeing prominent national figures of our democracy squirm to simultaneously represent the ideologue image demanded by their base while conforming it to the pragmatic need for majority support. That is to say, how to make conservatism tolerable to moderate swing voters voters who find things to like in the welfare state and reject the religious right. To square the circle, Ryan follows a classic neoconservative template, defined by Irving Kristol as keeping the welfare state as big as ever, but reforming it to subsidize constituencies and programs that foster "The American Idea" (aka conservative virtues typically referred to by American historians as republicanism). I imagine Paul poring over every National Review with a notepad for talking points.

It is fascinating to see where Ryan rocks the boat (aka criticizes members of his own party), and where he doesn't. While explaining his earlier Tea Party-unfriendly votes for big spending bills during the Bush years, he castigates purists for letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, which unintentionally results in even worse Democrat-written legislation and electoral setbacks. You would hope someone who repeatedly calls for perceptive leadership would follow this up by criticizing the Grover Norquist "no taxes ever" wing most responsible for polarization and gridlock. Ryan cut his teeth working with such Supply Siders, so he misses the opportunity to explain that although we can all acknowledge the negative economic effects of higher taxes, sometimes we need to raise them anyway to fund the parts of government most Republicans believe foster "The American Idea."

[Jim Gallen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Way Forward” is part autobiography, part political manifesto and part vision of the future. Now Speaker Paul Ryan begins with the story of his selection for the 2012 ticket, the campaign and the goals he and Mitt Romney hoped to achieve. He then tells of his youth, his jobs, finding his father dead of a heart attack, getting into politics and his early career in the House of Representatives. He then shifts into the problems he sees in terms of unsuccessful policies, failed leadership, and liberal courses that are doomed to failure from the beginning. He contrasts his home town of Janesville’s response to adversity with that of Detroit. Whereas Janesville lost its GM Plant without losing its soul, Detroit spiraled into disaster. Ryan tells of his efforts to reach out to his constituents, Republicans and Democrats alike, as he seeks to represent them all.

Ryan speaks of the challenge to Republicans to articulate how conservative policies can improve people’s lives and the gives some prescriptions as to what the GOP needs to do to become the governing party of the United States. In the end his finds signs of hope throughout America, even in Detroit, the most tragic victim of liberal misdirection and mismanagement.

From this book I got a sense of what drives Paul Ryan: his Catholic faith, the life he and his family have shared in Janesville and his core beliefs. I understand why he was so reluctant to accept the speakership. Besides the difficulties of leading a divided caucus the position runs counter to the path he has followed during his congressional career. Early on Rep. Barney Frank told him that too many come to Congress as generalists and accomplish little. He advised Ryan to concentrate on two or three things and get to know them. Ryan specialized on the budget and feels that he can really make a difference in that area while the Speaker is, by definition, a generalist who may not be able to take advantage of the expertise he has developed. Ryan is committed to making government work, not to create disruption. I recommend “The Way Forward” to anyone looking for what motivates Paul Ryan and a path for our nation’s future.

[ND · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not enough Ayn Rand.

I am tempted to leave the review at that. This is not a great book. It's not a terrible book either. Paul Ryan and/or his underwriters craft a likable persona, and it is genuinely interesting hear Ryan's perspective on his congressional career and the 2012 presidential campaign.

However, there is far too little of that content for this to qualify as good memoir. Rather, that story is his platform to articulate his political vision, his way forward, and in this the book lacks substance. Frequently Ryan narrates conversations he has had with others in which he exhorts them to make clearer the positive vision the GOP can offer, rather than just criticizing the excesses of "liberal progressivism." I am not convinced that what he terms "liberal progressivism" is coherent or desirable, yet this book contains very little in the way of a substantive alternative vision. It is vague in the way that campaign speeches are vague, which is odd given Ryan's obvious pride at being "a policy guy." Moreover, the tone of the writing is frequently (though not always) defensive, which is off-putting and unfortunate.

I would not recommend this book to anyone, really. No matter what you're after (Paul Ryan's biography, conservative politics, a history of congress 1995-2014, an explanation of the rise of Trump), there's something better to invest your time in.

[Peter Cohron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Ryan's new book THE WAY FORWARD is a mixture of family history, the 2012 campaign, and a reiteration of his economic political philosophy.
I recommend it for the 2012 vignettes. Maybe they are not enough to buy and read the whole thing but they do spice up the book.
Politically, this is not much different from anything Ryan has written in the past. He makes a good argument both for his vision of the country as well as his criticism of what he titles "liberal progressivism." But good is not great. Though his book decries the state of the American educational system, the arguments are lightweight and do not "raise the bar" over his past writings and speeches. Indeed, the book comes across as a lowering of the bar to increase interest from today's instant knowledge, instant gratification population. In short, he could well have given much more detailed arguments for the basis of his beliefs and philosophies.
However, for the new PR reader, this book is an excellent introduction tot he Congressman and what he thinks this country needs to do.

[Scott Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was under the impression from the title of this book that it would be primarily a presentation of policy. It's not. It's at least half--probably a touch more than half--memoir. The memoir was okay, but honestly, political memoir isn't really what I was looking for.

The second half, where Ryan outlines what he sees as the way forward was far more interesting. He presents a Republicanism that is pro-market (which he defines as pro-consumer) but not pro-business, argues for a larger tent for the party, pushes a relatively moderate line on immigration reform, and addresses the need for smaller government that leaves room for American civil society to step up and address our problems. This part of the book I found sincere and promising. I didn't agree with his positions on everything, and there were some places I wish he had elaborated, but man he sounded preferable to anyone running for president this year (2016).

[Lance Lumley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewing books like this is hard because most people look at the author or the topic and judge before reading. I liked Paul Ryan when he was running for Vice President and thought he was a nice guy, which was confirmed by a friend of mine who works for a Senator.
The interesting thing about this book is how Ryan writes about his frustration with the other politicians in Washington, and some in his own party. One thing that shocked me was his account of pitching an ideas to not only Obama and getting shot down, but also Bush when he was President.
Ryan also speaks of his family and what they went through during his campaigning for Vice President, but yet still talking about his hometown roots and his love for the outdoors.
Even if you do not agree with his views politically (which you would not read this anyway if you do not), this book was a pretty enjoyable read.

[Ralph Bierdeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

BThis was an informative insight into Paul Ryan's viewpoints and beliefs. It is an easy to understand and I believe Paul Ryan was honest and candid in sharing his values and vision for major policy questions facing America. There were a few instances of his leadership that in reading the media reports at the time I found questionable, but in reading Ryan's explanation of these same actions, it made more sense to me. He is a leader in the House, has authored much of the budget recommendations the oats six years, and it is important for all US citizens to better understand leaders in politics, even when you don't agree with them. So, I would recommend this as an easy quick read for folks across the array of political preferences.

[Malin Friess · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. Paul Ryan takes us from his simple upbringing in Janesville, Wisconsin to being selected as a Vice Presidential Candidate by Mitt Romney.

Nothing startling in this book. Ryan promotes conservative principles, fiscal responsibility, and more localized government. Ryan gives nothing away as far as his presidential ambitions for 2016. He is fairly complimentary of Mitt Romney and was honored and somewhat surprised he was selected. I like much about Ryan (except for claiming he ran a sub 3 hour marathon when it was actually a sub 4 hour marathon..any serious runner would never mistake the two).

3 stars.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Ryan discusses his background and his vision for America more than his recent campaign with Mitt Romney, but that event is also described to some extent in his book. As a Republican, I enjoyed reading Ryan's analysis of the current situation in our country and how we can turn things around. He focused more on economic policy, as you would expect. That is his strength. The economic section was a little slow in terms of the writing, but it's difficult to explain numerical data in an exciting way. I could see this book as a launching point for his presidential run, and I see no reason not to vote for him... especially since he's a Packer fan!